Assembly members received copies of their new LATFOR-drawn districts via email last night (considerably later than 5 p.m., I’m told), and the response from some of them is less than positive.

We’ve already learned about the retirement (not necessarily redistricting induced) of one GOP member, Joel Miller, an outspoken Hudson Valley lawmaker who was one of the few members of his conference to vote “Yes” on same-sex marriage. (Apparently, he told Gannett of his plans before he informed his own staff – at least that’s what our YNN news desk found after placing a call to his district office in Poughkeepsie).

And Democrat Bob Reilly, after learning that he would be switching a portion of his district with his GOP colleague Jim Tedisco, told CapCon he might not seek re-election this fall. The change also means that Tedisco, who has long been associated with Schenectady County, will no longer be representing any portion of it.

Gannett also reported this morning that the new lines set up two head-to-head contests in the Assembly. One pits Democrat Sean Ryan against Republican Kevin Smardz in Western New York. The other sets up a GOP primary between Pete Lopez and Claudia Tenney.

Both of those contests strike me as a little strange.

Ryan just got to Albany, having been elected in special elections on Sept. 13, 2011. He’s barely had enough time to find the bathroom, much less understand the byzantine redistricting process. Smardz was elected in 2010 to the seat Assemblyman Jack Quinn vacated to run an unsuccessful bid for the state Senate – a race eventually won by Democratic Sen. Tim Kennedy. (Correx).

Lopez was widely hailed for his service after the flooding caused by Irene wrecked havoc with his hometown of Schoharie. Tenney is a relative newcomer, too; she was elected in 2010.

Now comes a press release from Assemblyman Bob Castelli, a Westchester County Republican in the 89th AD who was elected in a 2010 special election. He decried the gerrymandered redistricting process that renumbered his district the 93th AD, adding the town of North Salem and making some adjustments along the boundaries in the City of White Plains.

“In essence, the partisan gerrymandering remains,” Castelli said. “I believe there is still time for us to do better, though, because when politicians are choosing their constituents, instead of the other way around, it’s the people that lose.”

“…I enjoy serving this district, and it is my great pleasure to do so. The proposed 93rd Assembly District is almost identical to the area that I currently represent, and would not give me any competitive advantage one way or the other. However, the fact remains the district was gerrymandered for partisan purposes and remains so. It should be constructed to serve the best interests of its residents.”

Castelli’s press release was titled “GHOST OF ELBRIDGE GERRY VISITS ALBANY.” (In case that’s not self-explanatory, Gerry is the namesake of the term “gerrymandering”).

Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a Long Island Democrat-turned-Independence Party member who caucuses with the Democrates, just released his map, too. He was in the 2nd AD, which will become the 1st AD.

“I have supported a redistricting process that is independent and non-partisan and have sponsored legislation that would have instituted such a process,” Thiele said.

“It is disappointing that this year’s process was not the product of such an independent process. I will not vote for any re-districting plan this year that does not also include a constitutional amendment that will insure that all future redistricting plans are prepared by an independent, non-partisan commission.”

We’ve also received the following statement from Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, an Ulster County Democrat, who did not release his own map. UPDATE: Sorry, Cahill did release the proposed LATFOR lines for the 103rd AD. Here’s the map.

(I’ve got to say, this is the most disorganized rollout I’ve ever seen. Perhaps by design…)

“I will begin reviewing the just released Legislative redistricting proposal,” Cahill said. “While I would have preferred and independent process, having sponsored legislation to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission…these are the lines that have been proposed and it is important they be thoroughly vetted to make sure no one is disenfranchised and communities remain whole.”

“Public participation in the process will be essential as the current commission works to develop the final maps. Hearings will be held across the state beginning this Monday in Albany. I will work to ensure that everyone in the 101st Assembly District has the opportunity to have their voices heard before the Legislature votes on the new districts. I believe that an objective, non-partisan panel is the best way to develop Legislative and Congressional Districts and I will continue to push for this important reform.”

About Capitol Confidential

Capitol Confidential gathers the best coverage of New York politics and puts it all together. Each section - Capitol, The State Worker, New York on the Potomac, and Voices - represents a unique facet of the political scene. The Capitol section features coverage from the Times Union Capitol bureau. The State Worker is dedicated to state worker issues. New York on the Potomac offers news of interest to New Yorkers from Washington. And Voices features the best of everything else, pointing you to columnists and bloggers from across the Web.